NORTHWEST Community College (NWCC) hosted its first-ever trades and industry fair April 20 in Terrace with more than 200 people turning out.
High school students, as well as older students, from Terrace and Thornhill, Smithers and New Aiyansh were joined by college students from Greenville, Smithers, Kitimat, Kitwanga, Kincolith and Gitsegukla.
The all-day event gave participants the choice of workshops among seven different NWCC trades areas: professional cook, auto mechanics, heavy duty mechanics, welding, electrical, heavy equipment operator and carpentry. The demonstrations were run by NWCC instructors and the goal was to help students determine if they wanted to pursue a trade.
Lavender Morgan, a 19-year-old NWCC student in the career and college preparation program in Hazelton, said she was surprised with the variety of trades. Having taken the ACE IT program in culinary arts while still in high school, the Kitwanga resident says she plans to enrol in the professional cook program this fall but enjoyed seeing what other trades are all about.
“It was really neat seeing the buildings they construct in the carpentry program,” Morgan said. “I just assumed it was all woodwork. I didn’t know they worked with cement, too.”
While there were a series of workshops throughout the day, informational booths were set up all day in Waap Galts’ap, Terrace longhouse. On hand were employment recruiters, student financial aid experts and college student services team members. The employers included ALS Labs, Progressive Ventures and Bechtel, all of which are forecasting a high demand for labourers, apprentices and experienced journeymen.
Other recruiters present were the Canada 2011 Census representatives, which require large numbers of short-term staffers throughout the region, the Heritage Park Museum seeking carpenters as summer staffers, the RCMP and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Employment services by Northwest Training, small business advice by 16/37 Community Futures, and financial assistance from Métis Nation of BC and Pacific Trails Pipeline were also on hand.
College official Margo Van Der Touw said the fair will become an annual event.
